St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-02-14
FOR FARMERS, BENEFlG.
New Mutual Benefit Association
Organized Among the Farmers.

| Special Correspondence of the Globe.
| BISMARCK, Feb. 11.-Probably there is
no more destructive element in the territory
of Dakota than hail. The hail storms last
| year destroyed many thousand dollars worth
OF property, and each year these storms seem
to increase in severity. The farmers must do
| something for protection. Hail insurance
| companies have been organized, but theyhave
been operated and organized Oh the same
plans that the other insurance companies
are, which means largely for the benefit of
the incorporates. The farmers have got
tired OF building brown-Stone fronts and
buying four-in-handS for men who have
more brains than they have muscle TAX
ing The matter into their own hands, they
have organized insurance companies upon
the mutual benefit plan. to be operated and
controlled by the farmers alliances through
out the territory. The Farmers Mutual
Protective Association of Dakota. with
headquarters at Plankinton, has been sue
ceSSfully operated for year past, and the
first year paid over $74, 900 losses out of its
hail department alone. The assess
! ments amounted to over $3.50, 200.
and there is, consequently, left a
cash balance in the treaSurer's s
hands of nearly 100000. This is not what
the farmers want. Their idea is to operate
an Insurance company on plan whereby
the expenses will be paid each year and
there shall be no cash balance left over,
with which any schemer who may chance
to get the management of the company into
his hands can enhance his own riches or
swell his own Golfers. 1t is not an insur-
ance company for the purpose of making
money that they want. 1t is company
established for the mutual benefit of farm
ers throughout the territory. 1t is an 5asso-
citation of laboring men organized for the
purpose of assisting each other in time of
need. when the elements have DESTROYED
their crops and left them, perhaps, if not
destitute, IN straitened circumstances.
AlOnzo Wardall, of Grant county, is presi-
dent OF the new insurance scheme, which is
to be known as the Hail Protective associa-
ton, of the territory. The management
consists of nine directors, four of whom
have already been elected, President War
dali, Hon. j. X. Johnson, of Dawson
county; Hon. H. w. Smith, of NIinnehaha
and Rev. A. D. Chase, of Coddington
county. The headquarters of this associa-
tion are to be at Twin Brooks. Grant
county, the home of President Wardall
The association will be conducted on the
same plan of the Plankinton Mutual Ben
e6t, with the exception that no membership
fees or annual dues will be charged A pol
icy fee of 50 will be required. which is ex-
pected to paythe expenses, fees, rent postage,
printing, advertising, etc. The insurance
will not exceed S6 per acre and a premium
asSeSSable note for 25 cents an acre will be
taken. secured on crop payable Oct 5. and
after the losses are all adjusted and the
total ascertained an assessment will be
made sufficient to pay it. provided it does
| not exceed the total amount of premium
notes; If it does the losses will be paid pro
rata, but the entire assessment will be ap-
| piled to liQuidate losses, and for no other
| purpose, and in no case shall the assess
ment exceed the amount of the premium
notes. 1t is intended to have the secretary
of each local alliance act as agent and
banks in each county as repositories forgthe
notes and collections of their respective
counties and the directors and officers of
county alliances to act as adjustors, aud by
| these means 1t is expected to reduce the
| expenses to minimum. Mr.. Wardall has
been here day or two past and in connec-
| ton with President Loucks, of the Farm
ers' alliance, has been working up the
| scheme and articles of incorporation have
| been filed with the territorial secretary
! The movement is worthy one and will
undoubtedly receive the unanimous Ell
dorsement of other alliances throughout
the territory, as it will have tendency to
bind more closely together these men who
by toll and the risking of what worldly
goods they have are to make the territory a
grand grain center towards which the out
side world will turn its eyes. The farmers
of Dakota are not by any means a dead
class OF men. They come from Eastern
districts noted for men of brains and are
here not simply as spectators to take ad-
vantage of the generous land laws of the
| United States, but they are here as stayers
and tlllers of a soil which in richness is un-
eQualed by any portion of America.
| Tee AITCIJ